The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Waving Goodbye To Summer Nights, Sipping Mocktails.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse Welcome to the Bus. :)

Well, it would appear that Autumn is on it's way I have the heating on and can't wait to use the log burner.... shhh!

So, who are we? We're just like you. Married, single, divorced, lots of children or no children, working or a SAHM, it doesn't matter, we all breathe the same air.....

We're just trying to live our lives on the Bus, like you do each day. Well, except for one thing...

I know don't start my day with a swig, or seven, from a litre bottle of vodka (choose your poison) any longer.

And that's what has kept me here, for years now. And no doubt many more to come. Reading the stories of others struggles, wanting to say "I feel like that" or "I do that too!" but being to ashamed to be the first to put your hand up.

Well, let me reassure you here and now, there's not much that we haven't read about on here or done ourselves over the years.

We've laughed at stories of haphazard nights out, we've cried at the loss of loved ones and we've shared the pain that only an alcoholic knows when all that they want is to STOP!

Push the pause button, get off the ride, shut the door, bury yourself under the duvet for days. We've all felt that sickening feeling in our gut that makes us want to curl up and hide forever. And we've shared it all on here.

You see I don't know you and you don't know me, so we're just words on a screen to each other. Eventually, you'll get to know me more and I you, and the other fantastic Babes too, some will stay, some leave us, then some come back.

One thing I can PROMISE - here you are safe, here you won't be judged, turned away (unless you're not genuine) and we even have a huge stock of Opal Fruits but that's all down to Ma.

So, if you think we're you're kind of lovely bunch of people to help you stop drinking, slow down, hold your hand while you decide what to do, then come find a seat!

OUR MOST RECENT THREAD

AND A VERY SOBERING READ, THAT LEAD TO THE BIRTH OF THE THREADS THAT FOLLOWED

I made my own soup yesterday too baby, lovely hot, healthy comfort food. So sorry you can't eat it yourself, what a bummer.

When I first started cutting back on alcohol, I found it much easier to focus on the positives and celebrate the healthy choices I was making for myself, rather than just being miserable because I was denying myself drink.

In my mind, it's not a sacrifice, it's not denying or giving up anything, in fact it's the opposite. It's great to be free, to feel good about my choices, to not have to face those regrets every morning.

Otherwise you can find yourself in a cycle where you're not happy drinking and you're not happy not drinking which is rather depressing in itself.

Free yourself babes, throw off those shackles, don't let alcohol tell you what to do, kick it's arse!

D'argh I lost my post! A full rant about the uselessness of men.

Bad luck ma.

sweet how you doing tonight?

faire know what you mean about getting into a no mans land of not being happy drinking or not drinking and it not being worth the fight. Isn't that the AA mantra - deciding you are powerless over it so you might as well put it down , give it up and rest.

Think every one might need an opal fruit on this windy old night. And a although perhaps not in the same mouthful. Tea and chocolate seem to be my friend tonight.

Here's some to go with that tea then pop

Opal fruits all round.
Off to London tomorrow for meetings and stuff.
Sleep well all

Morning.

Pop, thanks for asking. I had an early night, feeling a bit coldy. But I slept really well and the sun is shining this morning, which always helps. How about you.

Ma hope London is good to you.

Hope you feel better sweet. Day 2 here despite big push from DP to open wine last night as he is stressed at work.

Sunny day here too , not sure how long it will last. Builder needs to finish up he is really messing us about now. Difficult to hold line of firm but friendly as just want him to take his stuff out of my living room and bugger off

ma welcome back to London have a good day.

After weeks of over thinking leading to over drinking I am now sitting here with my becks blue knowing that I am going to manage day one.

Have been lurking and reading, lots of inspiration on here.

workinprogress I think it's ok to be exactly that. I certainly am. Well done on day one. Just getting that under your belt is a great achievement. I was amazed at my one pint gig the other night - just a few months ago I would have had a three or four then some wine at home. No matter how much of the band I missed!

Hi all, just looking in. Great to see the bus so busy again. Am lurking but will try to post properly soon. All well here but hectic. Pop I also had a one pint gig on Friday! First ever I think Ma how was London? Nick any coffee? Breakfast meeting tomorrow at insane o'clock for me so off to sleep. Finding the thread very honest and inspiring at the moment. In the words of Young Mr Grace from Are You Being Served (for those of us old enough to remember it) you're all doing very well

Morning All.

Well done, Work, you will start feeling better very quickly, so make sure you bank that feeling and hold on to it.

Pop, you are doing so well, have you talked to DH about not including you when he wants a drink? Perhaps drinking something you don't like?

I managed to stay awake until 10.30 last night!! And no 3am wake up, so I'm feeling better for day three.

Thanks pop and sweet do feel better ths morning despite very bad sleep without my usual sedative.

Don't know if I'd ever be able to have just one drink. Everyone seems to say that if you've ever had a problem with alcohol you can never drink in moderation but I've seen my Dad who was a massively heavy drinker for 40 years and is now able to have one or two on social occasions but no more than that and never very often.

Hey hope. London was good. Caught up with old friends
and a step nearer to a small contract which might help out.

Why do new fangled light bulbs have to be so complicated? Why is the weather so apocalyptic? Thursday afternoon conundrums.

Are lightbulbs complicated these days? Can't say I've noticed. Being the shortest in my house by almost a foot, I haven't changed a lightbulb in years.

I am, however, the candle-lighter. Got two going at the moment, one a cinamon sort of Christmassy scent and the other is supposed to be wild sea grass, whatever that is.

I'm warm and cosy, the casserole is in the oven, the cat is curled up next to me and all is well in the nuff household this evening

faire - I'm talking down lighters for recessed spotlights. You can get Halogen. Or Led. And Eco of various degrees. Not only different wattage but different sizes in various dimensions and different 'glows'. Harrumph.

Sounds lovely nuff
Got back from London and walked into mediating a row between Dh and dd2. Didn't even get chance to get my coat off. I presume at some point someone might ask how my meetings went.
To be fair, he did have dinner ready...

That does sound complicated pop.

How did your meetings go ma?

Mediating is a pain in the neck and even worse when one of them is an adult who should know better, imo. How is lovely ds, these days, any happier with school?

Meetings went well faire thanks for asking
Ds is much happier now, to the extent he is -gasp- taking part in a concert tomorrow night with "the band". He is playing the drums!!!! You could knock me down with a feather! The boy who wouldn't go out the door most times is in a band and playing in front of people. Well, I never....

Faire so jealous. Just done 12 hour day including 2 hour drive home, then straight out taxi-ing ds so now sat in car in the rain till 9pm. WB didn't offer to do the sports run Though did make me a care package - flask of coffee, bag of crisps, chocolate orange, tangerine. No wonder I'm not svelte and lovely! Save me some casserole....

Pop the light fittings in my bathroom are so complex I had to get a man in to change the bulbs as none of us could do them

Work, Sweet well done on your AF days . Hope you both have a good evening.

Ma, situation sounds familiar . Mind you my dd could start a fight with herself in the mirror at the moment. Teen hormones! Maybe I'm better off sat in the car after all. At least I have my kindle. Just finished A Little Life. (long, compelling but sad). Deciding what to read next..

Night all x

PS Margie how's it going? Hope you're still on board x

Hey hope I'm reading "The Abortionist's Daughter" which is quite good.
Anyone seen indie anywhere?

ma do you want to share any details of your meetings - like who exactly you were meeting and greeting? Or is it a military secret?

I would drive you all insane with jealousy if I told you what a glorious week I have had staying at my best friend's house in the Highlands.... so I'll not bore you with details of long walks in fragrant pine woods or views of snow - capped mountains or blue skies reflected in the loch. I'll omit the details of a red squirrel in the tree and a deer on the lawn. But I will tell you that doing it all sober is a truly glorious experience. Even if you can only manage one day, even 8f you can only manage one hour - it is possible and it is worth it.

Happy Friday Everyone

Venus I am very sounds magical

Ma just ordered that book, looks good. have a good day

Sweet sending hugs

Margie how are you lovely?

Fox where are you babe? hugs to you my friend

Friday nights were always my 'blow out' night, I'd completely wreck my plans for the weekend because of hangover or over time would make no plans for the weekend as I knew I'd be no good to anyone Saturday night would roll on from Friday, Sunday lunchtime drinking would then occur - quite a pickle.

Off out for a girlie lunch (not that I can afford it) it will be a boozy one, but I will not be drinking and I'm very proud of that fact

Have a good day everyone x